Dual inverter open winding machine for vehicle with electric power takeoff

Abstract

A dual inverter open winding machine for a vehicle. The machine may include an electric motor, a first energy source, a first inverter, a second energy source, and a second inverter. The first inverter may include a plurality of first switches independently operable between an opened position and a closed position to selectively connect and disconnect a first direct current (DC) port and a first alternating current (AC) port with one or more of the first energy source, the first inverter, and the motor. The second inverter may include a plurality of second switches independently operable between an opened position and a closed position to selectively connect and disconnect a second DC port and a second AC port with one or more of the second energy source, the second inverter, and the motor.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A dual inverter open winding machine for a vehicle, comprising:
 an electric motor operable according to a mechanical distribution mode and an electrical distribution mode, the mechanical distribution mode utilizing the motor to propel the vehicle, the electrical distribution mode utilizing the motor to support electrical power transfer for the vehicle, the electric motor including a plurality of windings with each winding having a first end and a second end; 
 a fuel cell energy source; 
 a fuel cell inverter coupled between the fuel cell energy source and the first ends of the windings; 
 a plurality of fuel cell switches independently operable between an opened position and a closed position to selectively connect and disconnect a direct current (DC) battery port and an alternating current (AC) fuel cell port with one or more of the fuel cell energy source, the fuel cell inverter, and the first ends of the windings; 
 a battery energy source; 
 a battery inverter coupled between the battery energy source and the second ends of the windings; 
 a plurality of battery switches independently operable between an opened position and a closed position to selectively connect and disconnect a DC fuel cell port and an AC battery port with one or more of the battery energy source, the battery inverter, and the second ends of the windings; and 
 a controller configured for controlling the fuel cell switches, the battery switches, the fuel cell inverter, and the battery inverter according to a mechanical power distribution strategy when the electric motor is operating in the mechanical distribution mode and according to an electrical power distribution strategy when the electric motor is operating according to the electrical distribution mode. 
 
     
     
       2. The dual inverter open winding machine according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the electrical power distribution strategy is operable for implementing:
 a DC battery charging mode for charging the battery energy source via the DC battery port; 
 a DC battery power take off (PTO) mode for discharging the battery energy source via the DC battery port; 
 an AC fuel cell PTO mode for discharging the fuel cell energy source via the AC fuel cell port; 
 a DC fuel cell PTO mode for discharging the fuel cell energy source via the DC fuel cell port; 
 an AC battery charging mode for charging the battery energy source via the AC battery port; and 
 an AC battery PTO mode for discharging the battery energy source via the AC battery port. 
 
 
     
     
       3. The dual inverter open winding machine according to  claim 2 , wherein:
 the fuel cell switches include a first fuel cell switch, a second fuel cell switch, a third fuel cell switch, a fourth fuel cell switch, and fifth fuel cell switch. 
 
     
     
       4. The dual inverter open winding machine according to  claim 3 , wherein:
 the battery switches include a first battery switch, a second battery switch, a third battery switch, a fourth battery switch, and fifth battery switch. 
 
     
     
       5. The dual inverter open winding machine according to  claim 4 , wherein:
 the DC battery charging mode includes:
 controlling the first and second battery switches and the third and fourth fuel cell switches to the closed position; and 
 controlling the third, fourth and fifth battery switches and the first, second, and fifth fuel cell switches to the opened position. 
 
 
     
     
       6. The dual inverter open winding machine according to  claim 4 , wherein:
 the DC battery PTO mode includes:
 controlling the first and second battery switches and the third and fourth fuel cell switches to the closed position; and 
 controlling the third, fourth and fifth battery switches and the first, second, and fifth fuel cell switches to the opened position. 
 
 
     
     
       7. The dual inverter open winding machine according to  claim 4 , wherein:
 the DC fuel cell PTO mode includes:
 controlling the third and fourth battery switches and first and second fuel cell switches to the closed position; and 
 controlling the first, second, and fifth battery switches and third, fourth, and fifth fuel cell switches to the opened position. 
 
 
     
     
       8. The dual inverter open winding machine according to  claim 4 , wherein:
 the AC fuel cell PTO mode includes:
 controlling the fifth fuel cell switch to the closed position; and 
 controlling the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth battery switches and the first, second, third, and fourth fuel cell switches to the opened position. 
 
 
     
     
       9. The dual inverter open winding machine according to  claim 4 , wherein:
 the AC battery charging mode includes:
 controlling the fifth battery switch to the closed position; and 
 controlling the first, second, third, and fourth battery switches and the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth fuel cell switches to the opened position. 
 
 
     
     
       10. The dual inverter open winding machine according to  claim 4 , wherein:
 the AC battery PTO mode includes:
 controlling the fifth battery switch to the closed position; and 
 controlling the first, second, third, and fourth battery switches and the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth fuel cell switches to the opened position. 
 
 
     
     
       11. The dual inverter open winding machine according to  claim 4 , wherein:
 the fuel cell inverter includes a first fuel cell leg, a second fuel cell leg, a third fuel cell leg, and a fourth fuel cell leg connected in parallel, with the first fuel cell leg including a first pair of fuel cell switches connected in series, the second leg including a second pair of fuel cell switches connected in series, the third leg including a third pair of fuel cell switches connected in series, and the fourth fuel cell leg including a pair of fuel cell capacitors connected in series. 
 
     
     
       12. The dual inverter open winding machine according to  claim 11 , wherein:
 the first end of a first one of the windings connects between the first pair of fuel cell switches; 
 the first end of a second one of the windings connects between the second pair of fuel cell switches; and 
 the first end of a third one of the windings connects between the third pair of fuel cell switches. 
 
     
     
       13. The dual inverter open winding machine according to  claim 12 , wherein:
 the fifth fuel cell switch includes:
 a primary switch connected between the first end of the first one of the windings and a first interface of the AC fuel cell port; 
 a secondary switch connected between the first end of the second one of the windings and a second interface of the AC fuel cell port; 
 a tertiary switch connected between the first end of the third one of the windings and a third interface of the AC fuel cell port; and 
 a quaternary switch connected between the pair of fuel cell capacitors and a fourth interface of the AC fuel cell port. 
 
 
     
     
       14. The dual inverter open winding machine according to  claim 11 , wherein:
 the battery inverter includes a first battery leg, a second battery leg, a third battery leg, and a fourth battery leg connected in parallel, with the first battery leg including a first pair of battery switches connected in series, the second leg including a second pair of battery switches connected in series, the third leg including a third pair of battery switches connected in series, and the fourth battery leg including a pair of battery capacitors connected in series. 
 
     
     
       15. The dual inverter open winding machine according to  claim 14 , wherein:
 the second end of the third one of the windings connects between the first pair of battery switches; 
 the second end of the second one of the windings connects between the second pair of battery switches; and 
 the second end of the first one of the windings connects between the third pair of battery switches. 
 
     
     
       16. The dual inverter open winding machine according to  claim 15 , wherein:
 the fifth battery switch includes:
 a primary switch connected between the second end of the first one of the windings and a first interface of the AC battery port; 
 a secondary switch connected between the second end of the second one of the windings and a second interface of the AC battery port; 
 a tertiary switch connected between the second end of the third one of the windings and a third interface of the AC battery port; and 
 a quaternary switch connected between the pair of battery capacitors and a fourth interface of the AC battery port. 
 
 
     
     
       17. A dual inverter open winding machine for a vehicle, comprising:
 an electric motor operable according to a mechanical distribution mode and an electrical distribution mode, the electric motor including a plurality of windings with each winding having a first end and a second end; 
 a first energy source; 
 a first inverter coupled between the first energy source and the first ends of the windings; 
 a plurality of first switches independently operable between an opened position and a closed position to selectively connect and disconnect a first direct current (DC) port and a first alternating current (AC) port with one or more of the first energy source, the first inverter, and the first ends of the windings; 
 a second energy source; 
 a second inverter coupled between the second energy source and the second ends of the windings; and 
 a plurality of second switches independently operable between an opened position and a closed position to selectively connect and disconnect a second DC port and a second AC port with one or more of the second energy source, the second inverter, and the second ends of the windings. 
 
     
     
       18. The dual inverter open winding machine according to  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a controller configured for controlling the first switches, the second switches, the first inverter, and the second inverter according to a mechanical power distribution strategy when the electric motor is operating in the mechanical distribution mode and according to an electrical power distribution strategy when the electric motor is operating in the electrical distribution mode, the mechanical distribution mode utilizing the motor to propel the vehicle, the electrical distribution mode utilizing the motor to support electrical power transfer for the vehicle without contemporaneously propelling the vehicle. 
 
     
     
       19. The dual inverter open winding machine according to  claim 18 , wherein:
 the controller may be configured for implementing the mechanical power distribution strategy and the electrical power distribution strategy based at least in part on controlling electrical power transfer through the windings. 
 
     
     
       20. A multi-machine, comprising:
 a plurality of dual inverter open winding machines connected in parallel and arranged in ring type configuration; 
 at least one of a plurality of energy storage sources connected in parallel between each of the dual inverter open winding machines; and 
 wherein each of the dual inverter open winding machines includes:
 an electric motor operable according to a mechanical distribution mode and an electrical distribution mode, the mechanical distribution mode utilizing the motor to provide mechanical power, the electrical distribution mode utilizing the motor to support electrical power transfer, the electric motor including a plurality of windings with each winding having a first end and a second end; 
 a first inverter coupled between one of the energy sources and the first ends of the windings; 
 a second inverter coupled between another one of the energy source and the second ends of the windings; and 
 
 a controller configured for controlling the dual inverter open winding machines according to a mechanical power distribution strategy when operating in the mechanical distribution mode and according to an electrical power distribution strategy when operating in the electrical distribution mode.